Three Weeks
I havenât exercised for three weeks and I donât care.
Well, I do care. If it was up to me I would go out to run and play every day, but sometimes life gets in the way and thatâs fine. This blog is all about keeping it real so Iâm going to be honest about my exercise habits, in the hope that the next time youâre going through a dry patch (fitness wise) you wonât feel so guilty.
I last went running at the Red Bull Wings for Life Race, and had an amazing time. Unfortunately I ended up with some horrific blisters (wearing brand new shoes for a race, I deserved it) and some equally serious chafing (arguably, I did not deserve this) so took a few days off to recover/start to walk properly. I was limping like an idiot and needed the time to heal, so taking a few days off was fine by me.
After this, work kicked off in a big way. When youâre finishing at 1am every night and donât even have time to stop and eat, the idea of popping out for a run or getting up early to catch a class seems laughable. My chosen career comes with peaks and troughs in the working hours department and thatâs something I accept as part of the job, no complaining (OK, minimal complaining). This is the deal and thatâs fine by me.
Add in to the mix a few busy weekends celebrating birthdays and seeing family and that leaves no time to squeeze in a workout. Constantly driving somewhere and popping in to see different people takes up a lot of time, and waking up on a mattress on a floor with a raging hangover isnât particularly conducive to getting up early to go for a run. Seeing family and friends and celebrating their milestones is incredibly important to me, and if it means missing a few workouts then thatâs fine by me.
Next up, in a big sign from the universe that says “Youâre getting old!” I fell on my neck competing in a bungee run at my nieceâs 9th birthday party (I was up against a 13 year old, and I lost). Itâs been incredibly sore ever since and, while being no doctor, I know that necks are not to be fucked with. If sleeping on my side and coughing hurt, then itâs highly likely that a good old run round the park or a heavy session in the gym will also hurt and quite possibly impede my recovery to being the owner of a fully functional neck again. So, Iâm refraining from exercise until it gets better because (a) my neck is important, and (b) doing most things is plain painful, so this is fine by me too.
The reason Iâve decided to share this is because I had started to feel guilty and useless and fat. Being a big social media user, itâs easy to get bombarded with tweets and instagrams showing you just how fit everyone else is and how much fun theyâre having doing crossfit/running track, and feeling like a useless blob in comparison. The thing is, nothing positive can come from negative thoughts. Yes, I havenât exercised in a while, for a variety of reasons, but each of those reasons is legitimate. My career is important. My health is important. My family is important. Sometimes life gets in the way of being an instagram worthy fitness blogger, and thatâs fine by me.
Welcome to my world! Life gets in the way, full stop! It has a way of dictating your way forward however much you protest (in your mind of course - otherwise theyâll lock you up) but the important thing is to go with the flow and enjoy yourself! And I can still do a cartwheel, honest!
Completely understand this, life just happens doesnât it. I havenât been able to run/gym as much as Iâd like over the last few weeks and I didnât realise how much it was distressing me - I feel so fat and lazy! Youâre right though, nothing positive can come from negative thoughts and life will always have ups & downs.
I completely feel you. My work has been insane this week and i have not done one single bit of exercise. When you get up at 6am and leave work at 1am, that exercise time does not exist. I shouldnt feel guilty, but I do!
I hear you! I am fighting against that guilt. The things taking up your time are equally valuable, and I hate the mentality that if you arenât going hard every day then youâre failing or youâre not committed. Hope things ease up for you soon!
Iâve started to instagram my exercise sessions less and less. Itâs not really that important whether I do something hardcore every day or just go for a nice long walk or a scooter ride with the kids. Enjoying life/work/family/friends and just moving around little but often on a daily basis (walking, taking the stairs, etc.) is sometimes better for us than being all kinds of #fitfluential or #gohardorgohome every single day :)
Exactly. Also, I am too busy exercising to instagram it, and I hate dragging my phone out on a run or to the gym. I rarely instagram my exercise!
Loved reading this. Life does get in the way and thatâs fine, our priorities are constantly changing and just because fitness isnât in the number 1 spot right now, doesnât mean it wonât be soon. Itâs also incredibly important to rest up and let your body heal - especially necks! Besides, youâve been smashing it this week :) x
This is great. Iâm the worst at finding balance in life. And I also feel like a fraud on instagram and other social media when I havenât worked out in weeks or I missed a long run!